East York Tenants Take Action to Demand their City Councillor keep Green Spaces clean (AND SPECIAL DELIVERY!)!

On Saturday, August 15th, East York ACORN members came out to clean up Flemingdon Park, a park near many Toronto Community Housing Corporation buildings in East York. Members took time out of their weekend to stand in solidarity with tenants at 1 Vendome Place, who have been dealing with infrequent city cleaning of Flemingdon park, as well as insufficient garbage and recycling bins and signage. When members brought up the Flemingdon litter problem at the July East York Chapter meeting, we rolled up our sleeves and sprung into action!

The action was to clean up Flemingdon park, and deliver the garbage bags, with a demand letter to Councillor Jon Burnside’s office. Tenants had invited Burnside to attend the clean-up. Given that he had “other commitments”, members dropped the garbage and demand letter at his office to ensure he commits to cleaning Flemingdon!

Members filled 12+ bags with litter in under an hour, and then met back-up for some freezies and snacks. Members then drove over to Burnside’s office, to deliver them with a letter demanding more garbage bins, more frequent cleaning sweeps and better signage. East York Leaders Alejandra Ruiz Vargas and Mustafa Mehkary reminded the residents that we need clean spaces to live! One member read the entire demand letter out loud, before we headed upstairs to his office. 

First, members were greeted by Councillor Burnside’s secretary, who agreed to communicate their concerns to the councillor and set up a meeting. After they clarified their demands to her, they were greeted by Councillor Burnside on their way out! 

In response to East York ACORN members voicing their concerns, Burnside first gave individualistic explanations for the problem — people littering — while ignoring his office’s responsibility to provide sufficient bins and trash education, and funding of maintenance staff. But members fought back! Their message was clear: government officials must meet with tenants to find solutions to unclean public green spaces. Moreso, Burnside must commit to long-term solutions for East York tenants; not just a one-off clean-up during election season. 

And their fight paid off: Burnside committed to setting up a meeting to discuss solutions and their demands. 

East York tenants have made clear that all residents want and deserve clean parks. And when governments try to divide neighbors against each other, they fail! Because residents know that unclean parks are not just a problem of individual litter, but a result of failed city park services. This is what tenant organizing looks like: neighbours coming together, identifying the issues in their community, building leadership and taking action together.

We look forward to hearing from Councillor Burnside’s office, to set up a meeting where he sits down with tenants, and addresses their concerns about unclean parks, and the future of Flemingdon. 

ACORN strong, all day long!